Page 113 of The Billionaire's Royal Challenge

“Why?” Victoria asked.

“I made a huge mistake. I need to go back.”

“You forget to pack your socks, Nate?” Charles teased.

“No. I forgot that I am head over heels in love with Ellie. I can’t let her go. Not without one last try. But I need to get back to the palace. She’s announcing her engagement to Prince Eric tonight. If I don’t get there before that, there may be no hope for us.”

“Well, turns out,” Charles said as he rose, buttoning his blazer, “I kept the car around in case the plane didn’t work out. It’s right out front.”

“Okay, let’s go,” Nate said. “We have to hurry. I need to get to her. I need to tell her how I feel.”

His family rose, ready to stand behind him as he tried to fix the massive mistake he’d made earlier. They pushedthrough the others in the airport to make their way back to the door and climb back into the car.

With every passing second, his anxiety grew, his heart racing as the palace loomed on the horizon. He couldn’t shake the feeling that time was slipping away, leaving him with an insurmountable distance to cover.

Such a short trip, but too long for his taste.

As the car lurched forward, his resolve solidified, his determination driving him forward. With each passing milestone, the looming question remained: would he reach Elena in time to stop her from making a decision that could change both of their lives forever?

CHAPTER 25

ELENA

Elena’s heart plummeted as she stared at the car winding down the drive away from the palace. A storm of conflicting emotions churned within Elena, tightening her chest and blurring her vision with unshed tears. Each breath felt like a struggle against the weight of disappointment and heartache.

A winded Caroline caught up to her, panting for breath as she joined Elena outside the palace doors.

“He left.” The words stuck in her throat as a tear fell to her cheek.

“Oh, no.” Caroline tugged her phone from her pocket. “I will call the gates and–“

“No,” Elena said, flicking away the tear and firming her jaw. “Do not call them.”

“Why?” Caroline asked. “You wanted to speak with him.”

Elena crossed her arms, allowing stubbornness and angerto shove aside her disappointment. “He clearly did not wish to speak to me.”

“But, Your Highness…”

“Caroline, he left. He left here without even a goodbye. He had the opportunity to come to me, and he did not. I will not chase after a man who does not know my worth or care a fig about my feelings.”

“I don’t believe that’s true,” Caroline said with a shake of her head. “He’s hurt, too.”

“Is he? I did not hurl the insults he did. I stood by him as Eric framed him to paint him in a bad light. I fought against my own father for him. To be accused of using him only to escape marrying Eric?” Elena snorted out a laugh. “I will not chase him down.”

Caroline followed her as she stormed back into the castle. “He learned of your engagement to Prince Eric.”

“How?” Elena asked, her eyes wide.

“I–I believe Prince Eric told him.” Caroline tugged her lips into a grimace. “I didn’t confirm it directly when he asked me, but…he did learn of it.”

Elena’s gaze fell to the floor. Had this been the reason he’d left without a goodbye?

“I could still have them tracked down at the airport,” Caroline said with a wave of her cell phone in the air.

Elena stared at the device for a moment before she shook her head. “No. If he wanted to speak about it, he would have.” She curled her fingers into fists, sucking in a steadying breath. “No, we move forward as I planned.”

“But, Your Highness, this is surely a path toward misery. Please, before you ruin your entire life over one argument, let me arrange a meeting for you.”

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